21 November 2017
Around 19m homes to receive British classics on Freeview following Arqiva Mux move
Arqiva, the leading UK communications infrastructure and media services company, has today announced that British vintage film channel, Talking Pictures TV, is moving to one of its main standard definition (SD) multiplexes at the end of November – expanding the channel’s reach to around 19 million homes across the UK.
To date, Talking Pictures TV – which launched on Arqiva’s T2 HD multiplex in September 2015 – has been available in SD to Freeview HD customers, and viewers on Sky, Freesat, YouView and Virgin Media. The move, which will take effect on Thursday 30 November, will extend coverage across the country.
Sarah Cronin-Stanley, Director at Talking Pictures TV, commented: “Talking Pictures TV offers TV viewers the opportunity to watch nostalgic films from the 1930s onwards for free. Since we first launched two years ago we’ve built a diverse audience of millions of loyal viewers across multiple platforms, covering the length and breadth of Britain – all sharing our passion for this golden era of film! We’re delighted that, by moving multiplexes, we’ll be able to reach an even broader audience, and hope others may discover a new interest in classic films through discovering our content.”
Mike Finchen, Director, Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) at Arqiva, commented: “During the length of our partnership with Talking Pictures TV, it’s been great to see the rapid growth its business has experienced; it has gone from strength to strength, and the move to our SD Mux will ensure it continues on this trajectory.
“With 91% of the UK population watching traditional forms of television at least once a week[1], DTT and the Freeview platform present broadcasters of all shapes and sizes – especially independent providers like Talking Pictures TV – with the perfect opportunity to air programming to an audience who already know and love their content, and to expand their footprint among devoted TV viewers.”
Subject to retuning their TV and/or set-top box, viewers should be able to view Talking Pictures TV 24 hours a day on Freeview Channel 81 with effect from the afternoon of Thursday 30 November, 2017. For help on how to retune, visit Freeview.co.uk/support or Freeview channel 100.
(Source: Arqiva press release)
[1] Digital UK, Switched on: a guide to UK television, 2017/18
21 November 2017
To conclude its coverage of the COP23, Euronews in partnership with the European Forest Institute, presents a 360 report on the deadly forest fires in Portugal.
For the first time, Euronews one of the most innovative media for immersive journalism, also produces the video in 360 audio, a cutting-edge technology and only a handful of media companies in the world are capable of using it.
The first international newsroom to fully incorporate 360-degree video news into its regular production workflow in 2016, Euronews innovates once again while drawing attention to one of the deadliest tragedies in the country’s history.
Euronews’ special envoy to Portugal, Joanna Gill, travelled the parts of the country which suffered during the blazes throughout the Summer and Autumn. In 2017, wildfires in Portugal burnt up to 560,000 hectares of forest. This represents 60% of Europe’s total, for a country that represents just over 2% of its landmass. The wildfires, now recognised as the worst natural disaster this year in Europe, have killed more than 100 people in four months.
Available on Euronews’ digital platforms, the immersive experience allows Euronews’ audience to witness first-hand the devastation, meet the communities affected and hear from first responders and experts.
This video will also immerse the audience, thanks to a cutting-edge 360 audio mix, a technology which combines ambisonic recording and spatialized audio. Added to the 360 video, this 360 audio strongly increases the audience’s sense of immersion and presence. Euronews is among the first news media companies to publish immersive content with this technology.
The European Forest Institute is proud to have collaborated with Euronews on the 360 video on wildfires. EFI’s mission is to connect journalism and science communities around the topic of climate change.
Joining forces with Euronews is part of EFI’s new science-media initiative, The Lookout Station. The story on Portugal is the very first effort of the initiative, which will involve a number of media houses and provide scientific expertise to support digital storytelling on climate change. Pilot for the initiative, Lookout360° Climate Change Immersive Story Initiative, was recently launched. Euronews is the groundbreaker for the initiative, and sets the bar high.
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Thomas Seymat, VR & immersive journalism editor, Euronews |
“The fires in Portugal have been one of the major European stories in 2017, affecting thousands, and forcing us to look at the potential impacts of climate change on our continent. We wanted to take our audience on the ground to help understand the situation better. Our innovative use of 360 audio reaffirms Euronews position as a leading immersive journalism producer in Europe.
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Marc Palahí, Director, European Forest Institute
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“At EFI we take a scientific look at the root causes behind the fires. The effects of global warming, together with the expansion of unmanaged forest land due to depopulation of rural areas, create the perfect storm for catastrophic forest fires. The focus must be shifted from fire suppression to prevention and forest management that enhances the resilience of forests to global change. Developing a sustainable forest bioeconomy is crucial for such transformation.”
(Source: Euronews press release)
14 November 2017
Eutelsat takes the pulse of TV trends in Middle East and North Africa with the latest edition of its TV Observatory:
- Satellite surges 7% in one year to reach new milestone of 59 million homes, or 94% of total TV homes
- Eutelsat/Nilesat 7/8° West neighbourhood first choice for multi-channel viewing: offering broadcasters access to 56.2 million homes, up 6% in 12 months
- HD up 34% at 7/8° West with a penetration rate of 15%; 66% of homes watching channels from 7/8° West now HD-equipped
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) today presented the results of its industry-benchmark survey on TV trends across the Middle East and North Africa at the ASBU BroadcastPro Selevision Summit in Dubai.
Satellite: the preferred digital video infrastructure across Middle East and North Africa
Satellite TV reception in the MENA region has continued to increase its market-share compared to terrestrial and IPTV, and now reaches into 59 million homes. This represents 94% of the 62.2 million TV homes in 14 Arab-speaking countries, up from 92% only 12 months ago.
Eutelsat 7/8° West neighbourhood: first choice for multi-channel viewing
Eutelsat’s 7/8° West neighbourhood has further reinforced its pole position, with reach into 56.2 million homes in 14 Arab countries,up 3.1 million homes in only one year. The attraction of 7/8° West for 95% of the satellite homes in the region is driven by an exceptional line-up of over 1,200 Arabic and international channels, with a high diversity of free-to-air content and exclusivity (55% of exclusive channels). This latest audience growth also reflects the expanding offer of High Definition content at 7/8° West, up 34% in 12 months to 179 channels (15% of channels).
10 million new HD-equipped homes in 12 months
The pace of adoption of HD is accelerating in the MENA region, with HD-equipped homes now reaching 28.2 million, up from 17.7 million in 12 months and representing 46% of TV homes. This percentage is even more significant at the Eutelsat/Nilesat 7/8° West neighbourhood where 66% of homes own HD displays.
Michel Azibert, Eutelsat Chief Commercial and Development Officer, commented on the figures: “Our 2017 survey confirms the dominance of satellite as the preferred digital infrastructure across the Middle East and North Africa and highlights key trends, notably the increasing significance of High Definition broadcasting. It also confirms the 7/8 ° West neighbourhood as the prime gateway for broadcasters, reaching into over 56 million homes from Morocco to the Gulf States. In addition to this capability, our complementary HOTBIRD neighbourhood broadcasts almost 80 Arabic channels, making it a compelling neighbourhood for reaching into millions of homes across Europe as well as in the Middle East and North Africa.”
(Source : Eutelsat press release)
1 November 2017
Winners of the 2017 AIBs – full list and details of the winners and finalists in the 2017 AIBs – The AIB this evening announced the winners and finalists of the 20 categories in the 2017 AIBs – the international awards for factual content organised by the Association for International Broadcasting. Now in their 13th year, the AIBs celebrate success and outstanding achievement. They are firmly established as an important and well-respected annual competition for broadcasters and producers the world over. The international judging panel comprises over 50 media professionals from all sectors of the industry. Celebro Media, Signiant and .RADIO are the sponsors of this year’s AIBs. The full list and details of the winners and finalists is to be found in Winners of the 2017 AIBs.
